Sacred Harp/Shapenote Singins

Sunday, November 13, 2016

5:00pm 7:00pm17:0019:00

This is a community event held by Portland Sacred Harp shapenote singers and is free and open to all.

There is just one requirement to attend: an interest in singing. This is not a choir. We sing for ourselves and for each other, not to perform. There are no auditions, and our singings are made up of whoever happens to show up on a particular day. This often includes every possible level of musical experience and ability... from trained opera singers, to folks who sing in the church choir, to those who were asked not to sing in the church choir! All are welcome here.

This form of music-making has been practiced throughout the country since its origins in New England in the late 1700s. The shape note system was developed to help people learn to sight read music, and even after the system lost favor in the Northeast, it continued to thrive in the American South, and has now experienced a revival in all parts of this country and in many places abroad (Ireland, Poland . . . ). The music has roots in Christian tradition but our group has no religious affiliation.